Two Scottish independent schools are to merge, stating the new structure will be “far more efficient” and help to “limit substantial fee rises”. Stewart’s Melville College and The Mary Erskine School have announced their plan to merge and become a single, co-educational 3-18 school from 2026-27, called Erskine Stewart Melville (ESM). The Labour government plans to impose VAT on school fees from January, but the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) has warned that schools have "little to no ability" to absorb the increase because of the removal of business rates relief in 2022 and "significant increases in the cost of employing teachers". By Emma Seith, Tes. 

Margaret Mulholland writes in Tes calling for a "paradigm shift" in the approach taken to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. She outlines five areas where change could be "transformational", advocating equity by design, taking a holistic view, recognising intersectionality, connected thinking and the practical application of definitions. Margaret Mulholland is the special educational needs and inclusion specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders.  

A new “high level research commission” formed by ImpactEd Group includes representatives of the ASCL leaders’ union, Challenge Partners, Confederation of School Trusts and “representatives from a number of academy trusts and local authorities from across the country”. The commission has been created to investigate pupil engagement in school, in the face of persistently low attendance rates. National data shows absence rates were at 7.1 per cent last academic year, an increase from between 4 and 5 per cent before the Covid pandemic. The group will survey more than 100,000 students across the country throughout the year to explore the “links between engagement, attendance and academic outcomes". By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

According to a survey by the National Literacy Trust, 49 per cent of young people are engaged with poetry, ­either by writing, reading, listening to or performing it. Half of children are not interested in poetry but pupils from poorer homes enjoy it more than their wealthier classmates. Almost 30 per cent of those on free school meals said they read poetry in their free time in comparison to 21 per cent of their peers, while 18 per cent of those on free school meals wrote poetry, compared with 11 per cent. Jonathan Douglas, the chief executive of the trust, said: “It is encouraging to see the immense benefits that engaging with poetry can have on children and young people. However, there is a clear loss of potential revealed by this ­research, with so many pupils missing out on these benefits because they feel that poetry is not for them.” By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Teaching unions have expressed concerns about the Welsh government's plan to increase the number of students who learn Welsh at school. The Welsh Language and Education Bill will impose a target of achieving one million Welsh speakers by 2050 and aims to ensure all students leave school with the ability to speak Welsh. Unions have asked for clarity on funding and support and have raised concerns about their ability to increase Welsh language provision considering the current "staffing and recruitment crisis". By Elliw Gwawr, BBC News. 

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